President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the Ukrainian negotiating group following the meetings with the American and Russian sides that took place on February 17 in Geneva. The Head of State and members of the Ukrainian delegation also defined further steps and positions for the negotiations that will take place today.
The Ukrainian and American delegations also met in Geneva with representatives of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. The President emphasized that Europe’s participation in the negotiation process is indispensable for the successful implementation of possible agreements, and Ukraine has no doubt that partners are capable of ensuring the constructiveness of the negotiations and a dignified result.
“Yesterday’s meetings were indeed difficult, and we can state that Russia is trying to drag out negotiations that could already have reached the final stage. I thank the American side for its attention to detail and patience in conversations with the current representatives of Russia,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
The President set a clear task for the Ukrainian delegation – to do everything so that the negotiations are nonetheless productive and increase the chances for peaceful solutions. In particular, the humanitarian track is to be discussed in Geneva today – steps for the exchange of prisoners of war and the release of civilians.
“I am grateful to our representatives for their teamwork and the implementation of the directives given to the delegation. Ukraine needs guaranteed security and a reliable, lasting peace. That is exactly what we are working for,” the Head of State concluded.